[closed] a little party never killed nobody

[spellslots]

who: The IPRE + friends
what: A dinner party!
when: Novemeber 18
where: Chez IPRE
warnings: some mild drug use (alcohol + marijuana)

Party time, motherfuckers. After sending out invitations, the IPRE (mostly Taako, because he's the most extra of the group) spends a significant amount of the week preparing for the party, making sure they have all the food, decorations, and wine necessary to put on a good evening. The whole point of this is to be a distraction from a shitty month, and to get everyone together, since they have a range of friends who haven't all met each other. They've been talking about doing something like this for months, so it's nice to finally pull it all together.

Upon arrival (and despite Taako and Lup's involvement) the decorations are minimal. Couches have been transmuted from their regular fabric to rich velvets, there's a little glitz and feathers here and there, but they didn't want to go too hard on the theme. It was just a way to have a little fun with the evening. The bar cart, on the other hand, is definitely in line with Speakeasy, featuring a lot of gin and whiskey based drinks, though anyone with a preference for wine or beer won't be disappointed. The start of the evening is dedicated to introductions and mingling, probably helped by the alcohol, though there's also cheese and antipasto plates set out, just in case anyone was worried about not being fed at something hosted by two chefs. As a way to break the ice, and to get people talking and having fun before the evening really kicks off, the brick wall of the small living room has been set aside as the designated backdrop for a 'photo booth', which mostly consists of a few instant cameras, including one that takes what are essentially magical gifs, so long as the button is held down for 5 seconds. There are a few props that match the theme of the evening - fur stoles, feather headbands, felt hats, long strings of pearls - to make the photos a little more fun. Once everyone is seated in the dining room, it's time for dinner. The food brought out for the main meal is warm and rich without being too heavy, slow cooked meats and roasted vegetables can be mixed with salads and lighter sides to avoid anyone slipping into a food coma before dessert has even begun. Everything is set in the middle of the table, for people to serve themselves, so they can pick and choose what they want to try. Lup has made at least one incredibly spicy dish, so be careful.

While there's no rush to leave the table, eventually plates are cleared away (by magic, so none of the hosts have to stop chatting) and everyone is ushered into the larger of their living rooms, where the small coffee table has been replaced by a seemingly floating table that's large enough to accommodate all the desserts. There are various pies (pecan, pumpkin, cherry), apple & maple cake, chocolate tarts, brownies and trifle. There aren't quite as many options as there were on the dinner table, but it's near a thing, especially when the section of the table devoted to cream, ice cream and sauces is taken into consideration. Dessert is an extended affair, pies will stay warm and ice cream will stay frozen for as long as they remain on the table, so people can return and try more even as the rest of the night presses on. And although the food is, really, the main attraction of any kind of event that Taako is involved with, that doesn't mean there aren't things to do other than eating. Once the dining room table has been cleared, (plastic) champagne glasses are laid out in what might be a familiar formation to anyone who went to college, especially when a ping pong ball is added to the mix. It's beer pong! Except it's actually prosecco pong, because this is a classy joint, not some frat. Or at least, that's the excuse. There are a few other things to do, mostly in the more generic range of party games, including a deck of Cards Against Humanity that Taako discovered a couple weeks ago and had been delighted by. He's definitely going to wrangle people into a game of Never Have I Ever, maybe Truth Or Dare, and anything else he can think of that requires drinking alcohol and saying stupid shit. What better way is there to get to know people? As things wind down, the backdoors open up into the courtyard, where a fire is set up, cushions and blankets placed outside for people to curl up with. The fixings for s'mores are available for anyone who somehow still has room to eat more food, and there's mulled cider just in case the fire isn't enough to keep people warm. It's a nice way to wrap up the evening.

Comments

[imperceptus]

It was a golden door.

[ He lifts his mug, as though in toast. ]

Had to walk through it.

[spellslots]

You win this round, but only 'cause I got distracted.

[Which was also Rin's fault.]

[imperceptus]

[ He winks. ]

That's all part of my strategy.

[ He reaches for Taako then, pulling him into a kiss. Quick, but soft; he threads his fingers in Taako's hair, presses them against the back of Taako's neck. ]

[spellslots]

[Well, he's more than happy with this turn of events; Taako leans in to meet the kiss, resting a hand on Rin's collarbone, careful not to move too much because if they spill hot chocolate on themselves he's going to be very embarrassed.]

I should let you win more often.

[Is that what happened?]

[imperceptus]

You do make it so very easy.

[ TEASING ... teasing while petting Taako's hair ever so gently. ]

[spellslots]

[Honestly he will put up with pretty much anything if someone is petting his hair.]

We can't all be as cool and collected as you are, some of us have to be fucking disasters.

[Taako's only a little bit of a disaster, but that's not the point.]

[imperceptus]

I wouldn't call you a disaster, Taako. I'd call you--elegantly controlled chaos.

[ Still petting. ]

[spellslots]

Fuck, that's a good one, I'm putting that on the about the author of my next book.

[Which of course he's going to have.]

[imperceptus]

[ He grins, curling his fingers in Taako's hair, right at the base of his neck. ]

See? I told you I had a wide variety of services.

[spellslots]

I guess I can justify keeping you around.

[Give him a second, he wants to get properly comfortable here, which means curling in a bit so he can rest his head against Rin's shoulder.]

You should stay the night, if you wanna.

[That's kind of a segue, though he'd been thinking it anyway.]

[imperceptus]

[ Rin sighs against Taako's hair. Soft, he thinks, and warmer than he used to. ]

I can hardly deny such an honor.

[ Not sarcasm, even if his slick voice might suggest it. ]

[spellslots]

It'd be a first, for sure.

[Well that's certainly not true, but it's clear from his tone that he's just joking.]

My breakfast's are legendary, impossible to pass up.

[Yes that's why Rin should stay the night, for a great breakfast.]

[imperceptus]

I expect the anticipation will keep me up all night.

[ He presses a kiss to Taako's scalp. ]

That, and maybe a few other things.

[spellslots]

[Apparently he's literally a twelve year old still, because Taako has to take a second to stifle his laughter before responding.]

Keeping you up all night sounds like a great plan.

[Terrible. Bad. But Rin only has himself to blame for setting Taako up with that wordplay.]

[imperceptus]

[ Oh, he hadn't even meant to do it. He laughs, the sound somewhat muffled by Taako's thick hair. ]

All right, a point for you.

[spellslots]

[He's very pleased with himself.]

Are we keeping score now, is that how it's gonna be?

[imperceptus]

[ He murmurs, eyes half shut. ]

Darling, I'm always keeping score.

[ And, so far as he estimates, always winning, besides.

But probably not for long. ]

[spellslots]

So what you're saying is I gotta up my game?

[The great thing about being positioned the way he is right now is that it's easy to press a few kisses to Rin's throat.]

Sounds like fun.

[imperceptus]

[ Ah, hey. That's cheating. Rin leans back against the chair, arching his back slightly, sighing. It's still surprising, this kind of contact, but he's getting better at just letting it happen. He runs his index finger down Taako's spine, stopping at the small of his back, shifting then so that he's massaging the muscles there gently.

(One thing he learned quite extensively over his time in the Underdark: how to be a really, really good masseuse.) ]

Show me what you've got.

[spellslots]

[Rin's hand on his back is briefly distracting, but he's determined to win this particular round, which clearly means upping the stakes.

Taako pulls back a little, removing his legs from Rin's lap, but only so he move one knee on either side of Rin's, settling lightly in his lap. Is he risking falling out of the chair? Yes. Does he think it's worth it? Absolutely.]

That is the plan, darling.

[And then he goes back to nudging under Rin's jaw to kiss the side of his neck.

Hopefully Rin has no issues with PDA.]

[imperceptus]

Ah--

[ Fortunately, Rin is significantly stronger than he looks. He holds Taako in position easily--via both hands resting pretty much just shy of Taako's ass. Displays like this were common enough in the Underdark, and he can't say he never participated--but then, it was forbidden to deny a priestess anything.

Rin's fingers dig in, firm but not rough. He turns his head to catch Taako's mouth, his sharp teeth scraping Taako's lower lip gently. His voice is low; rough. ]

Best be careful. You don't want me too worked up in front of all your decent friends.

[spellslots]

None of my friends are even a little bit decent.

[As if on cue, someone whistles (it's Cisco, why is he like this) and Taako laughs softly against Rin's cheek, pressing a kiss there that's more light and playful than anything.]

I could send everyone home, this is my place.

[And Lup and Magnus, but whatever.]

[imperceptus]

They seem largely on the up-and-up to me.

[ But his standards for that might be a little bit skewed. He cards a hand through Taako's hair, brushing his thumbs against his scalp--massaging, again, gently. ]

Anyway, I wouldn't want to break up the party. I'm not going anywhere.

[spellslots]

I guess you are the shadiest motherfucker I know.

[He means that as a 110% compliment because Taako has accidentally befriended a bunch of really nice people and it's baffling sometimes. He likes that he doesn't have to worry about Rin judging him for the shitty things he's done to survive.]

And uh, you might not be going anywhere, but you're gonna put me to sleep if you keep that up.

[The massaging. It's very nice.]

[imperceptus]

[ He looks mock-offended. He presses one hand over his heart (though not before squeezing Taako's hip), eyes wide. ]

Me! I am but a simple merchant, with simple aims.

[ He scratches at the back of Taako's head, gently, like you would the scruff of a cat. ]

Such as making you extremely pliable and suggestible with my talented hands.